Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Dr. Roxanne Dryden-Edwards is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She is a former Chair of the Committee on Developmental Disabilities for the American Psychiatric Association, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and Medical Director of the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, Maryland.

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) facts

Although there is no single cause for ADHD, there are a number of biological and social factors that seem to increase the risk of a person developing the disorder.

ADHD affects from 2%-6% of adults, men and women equally.

Adults with ADHD may show little to no hyperactivity but for those who do, the hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention symptoms are quite similar to those in children and adolescents.

There are three kinds of ADHD: predominately inattentive type, predominately hyperactive/impulsive type, and the combined (inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive) type.

In assessing a person for ADHD, a health professional will conduct a medical interview and physical examination. Lab tests are performed and patients are screened for ADHD as well as other mental-health symptoms.

Psychological treatments for ADHD in adults include education about the illness, participation in an ADHD support group, and skills training on a variety of topics.

ADHD in adults are often prescribed a long-acting stimulant medication. They may also benefit from a nonstimulant medication.

Home remedies, including dietary restrictions and vitamin supplements for ADHD in adults, have little research on their effectiveness.

The prognosis for ADHD individuals tends to be influenced by the person's severity of symptoms, intelligence, whether or not the ADHD sufferer has other mental-health conditions, as well as the person's family issues.

Adult ADHD Medication

Stimulant medications include methylphenidate and its derivatives, like Ritalin, Methylin and Metadate (methylphenidate) and Ritalin-LA, Focalin, Metadate-CD, Daytrana and Concerta (extended-release methylphenidate).

Nonstimulant medications used in the treatment of ADHD symptoms include atomoxetine (Strattera), guanfacine (Tenex or Intuniv), and clonidine (Catapres or Kapvay), as well as medications that are used primarily in the treatment of depression or anxiety, including bupropion (Wellbutrin) and venlafaxine (Effexor).